Uterine supporter



(No Model.)

M. F. HAYNES.

UTERINE SUPPOBTER. No. 350,246. Patented Oct; 5, 1886.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT, Fries.

MARTHA F. HAYNES, OF ATHOL CENTRE, MASSACHUSETTS.

UTERINE SUPPORTER.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,246, dated October 5,1886.

Application filed July 3, 1886. Serial No. 207,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTHA F. lLiYNns, of Athol Centre, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Uterine Supporter, of which the following is a full. clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a device for supporting the uterus in the treatment of prolapsus uteri or retroversions and kindred diseases, and has for its object to provide a simple inexpensive device of this character, which may be easily adjusted by the patient, and may be worn without discomfort, and will afford quick relief and promote a cure.

The invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction and combinations of parts of the uterine supporter, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 shows my improved uterine supporter as applied to use. Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the supporter drawn full size, and as made for use when no external helps are needed to hold it in place. Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the supporter as arranged for use with external fastenings; and Fig. 4. is a perspective view, drawn to a smaller scale, of the uterine supporter as connected by cords. to a waist-belt.

The supporter consists of a soft rubber tube or cord, A, bent into semicircular form, and a coin-silver wire, 13, bent at its center and attached to the doubled-over ends a (l of the rubber cord A by bending the extremities b b of the wire into eyes,which encircle and firmly clamp the ends of the cord, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. \Vhen external helps are not needed to hold the supporter in the vagina and to the uterus, as is often the case, the wire B will simply be bent double at the center, as in Fig. 2; but when external helps are needed the central part of the wire will be bent to form an eye or loop, C, through which rubber or elastic cords d d are drawn, said cords being connected at opposite ends to a belt, D, which will be passed around the waist ofthe wearer. The slipping of the cords d through the loop 0 allows free (No model.)

of the elastic wire B will be .pressed toward each other to press the ends a a of the rubber cord A together, and thus contract the supporter, which allows it to be passed upward into the vagina E without distending the walls of the vagina or causing pain, and with the rubber cord A foremost and the rounded or convexed side of the cord toward the front until the cord, as it expands or opens into normal half-round form, will pass around the front portion of the neck of the uterus F, as in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to give substantial but elastic or yielding support to the uterus very helpful in prolapsus uteri, retroversion, or other displacements requiring support of the uterus. It will be noticed that the extremities a a of the rubber cord A face the rear, and the space between the ends a a is directly opposite the rectum G. Consequently the rectum when distended by ordinary digestive processes is not irritated, as it would be by a uterine supporter made with a circular or bowl-shaped head. Neither is my supporter crowded out of place by distention of the rectum. Furthermore, my improved supporter adapts itself easily to every motion of the body, and may be worn without discomfort, and in most instances .its presence will not be noticeable, and the patient may readily adjust the supporter without pain, and without the aid of a physician, thus avoiding much inconvenience and objectionable personal exposure. Bending over the ends a a of the rubber tube or cord A presents rounded extremities of the cord to thesensitive membraneous lining of the organs and gives strength to the supporter; hence this construction is preferred. The coin silver wire B is non-corrosive, and will be made any length the condition of the organs may require.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A uterine supporter made with a semicircular or open cord or head-piece formed of ICO soft tubular india-rubber or other elastic substance, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. A uterine supporter made with a semi 1.3 asshmvn and described.

-L. The eombination, in a uterine supporter, of an elastic tube or cord, A, and a wire, B, secured to the ends of the cord, and provided with a loop l, for attachment of external ('astenings, substantially as shown and de- [5 scribed.

MARTHA F. HAYNES.

Witnesses:

Emu lGa'roN, ANNA. l. TowNn. 

